Gun Laws by State

I noticed after visiting many forums, many people asking questions like: “I’m moving to Colorado, can I take my AR with me” or “Can I drive through Kentucky with my AR in the trunk. To follow is a complied list of gun laws, state by state, defining concealed carry and open carry laws, whether or not you can own an AR and whether or not there is a back ground check to own a weapon. Look no further and ask no more here is your list.

These laws are subject to change and due to the uproar as of late they possibly could be out of date by tomorrow. Use with caution and double check each states Department of Justice website and it would probably be smart to check the county and city’s local laws you are interested in.

Alabama

Statute

Rifles

Pistols

Notes and Further Reading

Permit to purchase

NO

NO

Open carry is permitted, but handgun must be in holster. Open carry in vehicle is prohibited without license.

Registration

NO

NO

License required

NO

NO

Concealed carry permit

NO

YES

Open Carry permitted

YES

YES

AR laws

NO

NO

Background checks

NO

NO

Alaska

Statute

Rifles

Pistols

Notes and Further Reading

Permit to purchase

NO

NO

Open or concealed carry without permit

Registration

NO

NO

License required

NO

NO

Concealed carry permit

NO

NO

Open Carry permitted

YES

YES

AR laws

NO

NO

Background checks

NO

NO

Arizona

Statute

Rifles

Pistols

Notes and Further Reading

Permit to purchase

NO

NO

Anyone over 21 years of age may carry any concealed weapon or firearm but must disclose to law enforcement when confronted.

Registration

NO

NO

License required

NO

NO

Concealed carry permit

YES

YES

Open Carry permitted

YES

YES

AR laws

NO

NO

Background checks

NO

NO

Arkansas

Statute

Rifles

Pistols

Notes and Further Reading

Permit to purchase

NO

NO

Concealed handgun carry license for residents and nonresident journey through state exempt except through airports.

Registration

NO

NO

License required

NO

NO

Concealed carry permit

NO

YES

Open Carry permitted

TES

YES

AR laws

NO

NO

Background checks

NO

NO

California

Statute

Rifles

Pistols

Notes and Further Reading

Permit to purchase

YES

YES

All sales through dealer and California DOJ retains serial numbers and transfers. It is illegal to possess any type of AR weapon. Open carry is permitted in rural areas when permitted by local jurisdiction. Long guns may be carried when permitted by rural municipalities. Ten day waiting period for all weapons.

Certificate of eligibility for pistols, revolvers and long guns. State has registry of serial numbers of purchased guns. Registration required for AR’s. No permit necessary except for vehicle and is an open carry state. Private party transfers require a dealer and background check.

Registration

PARTIAL

PARTIAL

License required

NO

NO

Concealed carry permit

YES

YES

Open Carry permitted

PARTIAL

YES

AR laws

YES

YES

Background checks

YES

YES

Delaware

Statute

Rifles

Pistols

Notes and Further Reading

Permit to purchase

NO

NO

Open carry without permit is permitted. Transfers other than relative require dealer.

Registration

NO

NO

License required

NO

NO

Concealed carry permit

YES

YES

Open Carry permitted

YES

YES

AR laws

NO

NO

Background checks

YES

YES

District of Columbia

Statute

Rifles

Pistols

Notes and Further Reading

Permit to purchase

YES

YES

Registration required .50 caliber and above prohibited. Concealed carry is under court challenge. Illegal to own magazines with more than 10 rounds.

Registration

YES

YES

License required

YES

YES

Concealed carry permit

NO

YES

Open Carry permitted

NO

NO

AR laws

YES

YES

Background checks

YES

YES

Florida

Statute

Rifles

Pistols

Notes and Further Reading

Permit to purchase

NO

NO

Allows concealed carry of any weapon except machine guns. Open carry is generally banned but concealed is allowed without license. It is illegal to maintain a firearms list in Florida.

Registration

NO

NO

License required

NO

NO

Concealed carry permit

NO

YES

Open Carry permitted

NO

NO

AR laws

NO

NO

Background checks

NO

NO

Georgia

Statute

Rifles

Pistols

Notes and Further Reading

Permit to purchase

NO

NO

Concealed or open carry with permit.

Registration

NO

NO

License required

NO

NO

Concealed carry permit

YES

YES

Open Carry permitted

YES

RESTRICTED

AR laws

NO

NO

Background checks

NO

NO

Hawaii

Statute

Rifles

Pistols

Notes and Further Reading

Permit to purchase

YES

YES

No license required but must register all firearms within 5 days of arrival to Hawaii. Limit magazines to 10 rounds. Non permissive to open carry by practice.

Registration

YES

YES

License required

NO

NO

Concealed carry permit

NO

YES

Open Carry permitted

NO

YES

AR laws

NO

YES

Background checks

YES

YES

Idaho

Statute

Rifles

Pistols

Notes and Further Reading

Permit to purchase

NO

NO

May carry concealed when outside the confines of city limits.

Registration

NO

NO

License required

NO

NO

Concealed carry permit

NO

YES

Open Carry permitted

YES

YES

AR laws

NO

NO

Background checks

NO

NO

Illinois

Statute

Rifles

Pistols

Notes and Further Reading

Permit to purchase

YES

YES

Limited discretion concealed carry permits other states not recognized. Cook county and Chicago have AR bans.

Registration

NO

NO

License required

NO

YES

Concealed carry permit

YES

YES

Open Carry permitted

NO

NO

AR laws

NO

NO

Background checks

YES

YES

Indiana

Statute

Rifles

Pistols

Notes and Further Reading

Permit to purchase

NO

YES

May carry openly with license. Not required to disclose possession of firearm.

Registration

NO

NO

License required

NO

NO

Concealed carry permit

NO

YES

Open Carry permitted

YES

YES

AR laws

NO

NO

Background checks

NO

NO

Iowa

Statute

Rifles

Pistols

Notes and Further Reading

Permit to purchase

NO

YES

Iowa issues a permit to carry which is not limited to firearms.

Registration

NO

NO

License required

NO

NO

Concealed carry permit

N/A

YES

Open Carry permitted

YES

YES

AR laws

NO

NO

Background checks

NO

YES

Kansas

Statute

Rifles

Pistols

Notes and Further Reading

Permit to purchase

NO

NO

My carry concealed or openly without permit.

Registration

NO

NO

License required

NO

NO

Concealed carry permit

NO

YES

Open Carry permitted

YES

YES

AR laws

NO

NO

Background checks

NO

NO

Kentucky

Statute

Rifles

Pistols

Notes and Further Reading

Permit to purchase

NO

NO

May carry openly without permit.

Registration

NO

NO

License required

NO

NO

Concealed carry permit

NO

YES

Open Carry permitted

YES

YES

AR laws

NO

NO

Background checks

NO

NO

Louisiana

Statute

Rifles

Pistols

Notes and Further Reading

Permit to purchase

NO

NO

Open carry permitted without license.

Registration

NO

NO

License required

NO

NO

Concealed carry permit

NO

YES

Open Carry permitted

YES

YES

AR laws

NO

NO

Background checks

NO

NO

Maine

Statute

Rifles

Pistols

Notes and Further Reading

Permit to purchase

NO

NO

Permit less open carry permitted.

Registration

NO

NO

License required

NO

NO

Concealed carry permit

NO

YES

Open Carry permitted

YES

YES

AR laws

NO

NO

Background checks

NO

NO

Maryland

Statute

Rifles

Pistols

Notes and Further Reading

Permit to purchase

NO

YES

Handgun license required. State maintains a permanent record of all handgun transfers. Open carry is permitted with license. All private transfer regulated.

Purchaser card required, registration and record keeping. Open carry only with permit. No AR’s allowed.

Registration

NO

YES

License required

NO

NO

Concealed carry permit

YES

YES

Open Carry permitted

YES

YES

AR laws

YES

YES

Background checks

YES

YES

New Mexico

Statute

Rifles

Pistols

Notes and Further Reading

Permit to purchase

NO

NO

15 Hour hand gun course required. No loaded firearm may be transported at any time.

Registration

NO

NO

License required

NO

NO

Concealed carry permit

NO

YES

Open Carry permitted

YES

YES

AR laws

NO

NO

Background checks

NO

NO

New York

Statute

Rifles

Pistols

Notes and Further Reading

Permit to purchase

NO

YES

Rifle and shotgun permits required. All hand guns banned in NY city. No state permits valid inside NY city. AR banned unless you owned before 2013 and was registered. Open carry law very vague. Just don’t do it.

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About Ballistic Advantage

Here at Ballistic Advantage we produce quality AR barrels that exceed the most enduring demands of our customers. All of our AR-15 barrels surpass the competition in accuracy, precision, and beautifully contoured aesthetics. Our engaged team of engineers and machinists continually improve designs and create new innovations to enhance performance, from our popular 16" AR barrels to all other lengths and styles we provide to produce the best functioning AR's available.